"It's a sad day but, they're in heaven," said Joseph McStay's mother, Susan Blake, who attended a church service dedicated to the McStays at the Vineyard Community Church in Laguna Niguel, Calif. The service was held prior the paddle-out and began at noon inside the church located at 27632 El Lazo.

"I wanted to show the whole world appreciation for all the love and support you've given us," Blake said. "We know we were loved, and they were loved."

By 3 p.m., surfers were paddling out into the water, holding hands in remembrance of the Fallbrook family. They splashed water at one another and cheered as a large crowd of family and friends looked on from the sand and from up on the pier. Attendees also released orchids into the water and light candles in loving tribute of the McStays.

On Nov. 11 – more than three-and-a-half years after mysteriously vanishing from their Fallbrook home – the skeletal remains of the McStay family were found in and around shallow graves in the high desert outside of Victorville, Calif.

Over the years, Joseph McStay, brother, Michael McStay, has managed and updated a website documenting the case and search for his relatives.

Last month, an update was posted to the website about the public memorial service and beach paddle-out at the San Clemente Pier.

The invitation asked “all surfers to paddle out at the San Clemente Pier, light candles, release leis and enjoy the beach, as Joey & Summer, Gianni & Joey Jr. did.”

The post read, in part:

McStay Family Remembered at Desert Memorial

Loved ones, friends and even strangers pay their respects at a memorial held in honor of the McStay family by Victorville residents as the investigation into their deaths continues. Tony Shin reports from Victorville for the NBC4 News at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov.r 20, 2013. (Published Thursday, Nov. 21, 2013)

“We have finally been able to bring the McStay Family Home from the Coroner’s Office and are preparing to have the public memorial service and beach paddle out at the San Clemente Pier. My family is overwhelmed by the love and support friends and strangers have shown us from around the world, including the donations made on the family’s website.”

Though the grim discovery of the McStay family was a major break for officials, the case remains under investigation. Since the family’s sudden disappearance, the mystery has been filled with twists, turns and dead ends.

This was the same day a white Isuzu Trooper belonging to the family was found illegally parked at a nearby strip mall. At the time, detectives felt it was “a very high probability” that the footage was of the missing family.

When officials showed the video to relatives of the McStay family, some recognized the white jacket the woman in the video was wearing. However, other relatives said they weren’t sure it was the McStays due to the poor quality of the video.

Since the family’s sudden disappearance, the McStays hadn't used their bank accounts, credit cards or cell phones, investigators have repeatedly said.

The sheriff’s department said they had “conducted an exhaustive missing person investigation in an attempt to locate the family” and hundreds of tips had been investigated without success. At that point, the sheriff’s department said they had reached a consensus that the family went to Mexico of their free will.

Until Nov. 11, there had been no major breaks in the case. Now, the investigation has turned from finding the McStay family to figuring out what exactly happened to them.

At a press conference in November, San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon said investigators had not yet determined the cause or motive behind the victims’ deaths, including if the family may have fallen prey to Mexican cartels.

“It’s too early to tell if it’s cartel-related or any other suspects,” said McMahon.

“We’re going to find this individual, or individuals. I know the sheriff’s department, the FBI, everybody wants to bring this to justice. And, if it’s the last thing I do – I just want to know when it’s over,” he said.